Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh (SS)

Riyadh, Apr 24: The Saudi Arabian presidency of the group of 20 major economies called for further instant donations to fund for the COVID-19 pandemic and develop the necessary vaccines.

The G20 secretariat said that countries, philanthropic organizations and the private sector had donated $1.9 billion toward the $8 billion target set by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board. However, more funds were needed.

Sherpa Fahad Almubarak, the Saudi G20 said that as global challenges require global solutions, this is our time to stand and support the race to find a vaccine and other therapeutic measures to combat the coronavirus.

Additional funds will be needed for meeting the ends of emergency response, diagnostics, treatment, and the development, manufacturing, and deployment of required vaccines.

The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, met with the World Bank and the World Health Organization, urging them to raise $8 billion to supplement funds already being committed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in March.